Hey everyone, here we are with the next chapter for you and I just wanted to thank you all for reading the previous chapters and to those leaving wonderful reviews for me. I love reading them all, especially the longer reviews with a few pointers in what I've wrote about in the chapter, they are the best kind and honestly can't thank you enough, I really do appreciate the support. Thank you a million.
Hope you enjoy this chapter and don't hate me when you get to the end…
After landing in Puerto Rico and being escorted through the airport by airport security, they met with Joseph's brother-in-law, Diego. Who was waiting for them outside the main entrance with a car for them. "Diego," Joseph smiled as they approached him leaning back against his car and put his hand out to him.
"Hello stranger," Diego smiled while standing up straight and taking Joseph's hand in his, shaking it as they stepped closer and put their arms up, giving each other a man hug before stepping back. "It's so good to see you," he said and put his hand up briefly onto the side of Joseph's head as security left the trolleys with their luggage on next to them. "It's been far too long."
"It has," Joseph nodded and turned to Clarisse standing nervously behind him. "Diego," he said, putting his arm around Clarisse's back with a smile, urging her to step forward, and looked back at his brother-in-law. "You remember Clarisse, don't you?"
"I do, of course," Diego smiled and took a step closer to her, "it's so lovely to meet you again, Your Majesty," he said and took her hand, kissing the back of it before bowing to her.
"Oh no, please, there's no need for formalities now," Clarisse said, watching as he, all six foot of him, stood back up straight in front of her. "Call me Clarisse," she smiled as Joseph slipped his hand from her back and lovingly into her hand, and holding it down between them, "we are family now after all."
"Very well, Clarisse it is," he smiled with a wink and turned back to Joseph while holding out his hand with the car keys in. "Now, I am loaning you the range while you are here, but please, I beg you, be careful with it. It's my new drive. I've only had it a few weeks."
"Oh we will be careful, don't you worry," Joseph smiled and took the keys from him with his free hand. "But won't you be needing it? We can hire a car if you do, it's not a problem."
"Oh god no, I didn't see any point in you hiring a car when I have another car that I can use while you have the range," Diego said.
"Well as long as you are sure?" Joseph asked.
"Oh absolutely," Diego nodded. "Now, I also have the keys for the place you're staying too," he said while handing him the keys. "And you don't need to worry about getting any food in either, Vee and I went over this morning to fill the fridge and cupboards for you, we even got you a few bottles of your favourite wine, and," he said averting his gaze to Clarisse, "a bottle or two of the finest champagne," he smirked, looking back at Joseph and winked. "And a few essentials that you might need too."
"That's perfect, thank you Diego," Joseph smiled and turned his head to look at Clarisse. "Saves us doing it, doesn't it?" He said and watched as Clarisse smiled while leaning closer and putting her free hand up onto his forearm.
"That's what we thought," Diego smiled. "There's nothing worse than going away and having to do a bit of shopping," he laughed. "Not really what you want to do on honeymoon."
"So true," Joseph smiled and looked back at him. "Talking of Vee, I thought she was following you in her car and then was going to drive you back?"
"She was going to, but something came up so a friend is driving me back instead," Diego said and glanced at his friend leaning against the car parked in front of his car and put his hands in his pants pockets while looking back at Joseph and Clarisse. "But she made me promise though, that I'd invite you both to dinner sometime while you're here in Puerto Rico, you know, to celebrate your wedding and for everyone to meet Clarisse," he said, smiling at Clarisse.
"Well we would love to accept of course," Clarisse smiled and looked to her husband, "wouldn't we?"
"Oh absolutely," Joseph smiled and nodded.
"Great, well have a think what day you would like to come and let us know," Diego smiled.
"We will, and we would like to arrange a night when we can come to your bar too," Joseph smiled and looked back at Clarisse. "Because Clarisse here, now that she's getting to experience more of the world, would love to go to a proper bar and I told her that could be arranged while we are here."
"Oh yes, most definitely," Diego smiled as they both looked up at him. "You are welcome anytime to my bar, I'm there most nights."
"Great, we will make plans," Joseph smiled.
"Be sure you do," Diego smiled and nodded. "Maybe we can arrange it so that we have an early dinner with the kids one evening, and then us adults can go onto the bar afterwards?"
"Yeah, that sounds like a good plan," Joseph nodded and watched as Diego looked back to Clarisse.
"Everyone is so excited to finally meet you," Diego smiled. "Especially Luna, our youngest."
"Aww well, I can't wait to meet everyone too," Clarisse smiled.
Smiling, Diego looked back to Joseph, "come on, I'll help you load the trunk so that you can get on your way. I'm sure you are both exhausted after the long flight and dying to get to the house."
"Yeah, you could say that," Joseph nodded while letting go of Clarisse's hand and putting his hand out onto one of the trolley handles.
"Oh, and before we part ways today," Diego said as he stepped closer to Joseph, "there's something important that I need to speak to you about."
"Alright, just give me a minute," Joseph nodded and moved closer to the car as Diego nodded. "There you go, my love," he smiled while opening the passenger door and turning to Clarisse.
"Thank you," she smiled and put her hand up to cup his face for the briefest of moments as she passed by and climbed into the car. "I'll see you soon, Diego."
"Yes you will," Diego smiled and put his hand up as Clarisse smiled at him and then at Joseph as he stepped closer to her sitting in the car. "Adiós," he smiled and turned away, giving them their privacy.
"We won't be long, I promise," Joseph smiled and leant closer to kiss her before stepping back and shutting the car door.
Moments later, Joseph climbed in the driver's seat and buckled his seat belt before looking at Clarisse sitting beside him in the passenger seat. "Ready to go?" He smiled.
"Of course," she smiled and watched as he started the car. "What did Diego want to speak to you about? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's good," he nodded, pulling out of the parking space and they both waved to Diego as they drove off.
"He's very tall, isn't he? I don't remember him being that tall when I met him before," Clarisse said as she looked back at her husband and leant closer to him while resting her arm on the armrest between them and tucking her foot behind her ankle. "Or being that muscular either."
"Yes, he is," Joseph laughed and nodded while giving her a quick look. "You gotta remember the first time you met him and Vee was for only a brief few minutes in between meetings."
"That's true," she nodded and looked out of the front windscreen at the road ahead. "It felt quite intimidating, him towering over me."
"Rupert was tall," Joseph laughed as Clarisse turned her head to look back at him.
"He was, yes, but he was tall and lanky, certainly not muscular like Diego is," Clarisse said as she studied him.
"You'll be fine once you get to know him a bit more, he's a big softie really, like Mia says about me, and has a heart of gold," he smiled. "I promise he isn't always this scary."
"He did look like he had a playful side," Clarisse said as she continued to watch him.
"Oh he does, very much so," Joseph nodded, "and he's very protective too. Especially with Vee and their kids, Vee, you know, is actually shorter than you."
"Is she?" Clarisse exclaimed in surprise and looked back out of the front window, trying to imagine them stood side by side, as Joseph nodded.
"Yes, they get a lot of looks whenever they go out together," Joseph laughed.
"I can imagine," she nodded with a smile and turned her head to look out her door window.
"A lot of people find me intimidating, you know?" Joseph said as Clarisse turned her head to look back at him.
"Oh I know and I can certainly see why, especially when you are dressed all in black and in protective mode," Clarisse nodded and bit her lip, finding the image of him dressed all in black while in protective mode, quite sexy.
"Did you ever find me intimidating?" He asked and flashed her a quick smile as she sat smiling beside him.
"Sometimes I did yes, the first few years of you working at the palace I did," she nodded and watched as he laughed beside her, "but now, whatever other people find intimidating about you, I actually find endearing."
"Really?" He asked and glanced to her.
"Yes, really," she said with a laugh, watching him sit with both of his hands on the steering wheel with a smug look on his face. "Surely you should know this."
"Well I do now," Joseph laughed and gave her another quick look before looking back at the road. "Oh I just remembered, would you like my phone to call Mia?" He asked with a smile.
"Oh yes please," she said with a small laugh, "I forgot all about that."
"I thought you had," Joseph said as he slipped a hand into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out his phone. "Here you go," he smiled, extending his hand to her leaning on the armrest between them.
"Thank you," Clarisse smiled, taking his phone from him and started going through his contacts to find Mia's name.
"We are going to have to get you a phone one day you know," he chuckled, putting his hand back on the steering wheel.
"Hmm, maybe one day," she said, looking up at him. "Why haven't you got Mia in here?"
"I do," he said, turning his head to look at her for the briefest of moments before looking back at the road. "It's under granddaughter."
"Aww, really?" Clarisse smiled in surprise and looked back down at the phone in her hands.
"Yes, really," he chuckled. "That's what she is now after all."
"Yes she is," she smiled up at him for a long moment, the idea of him now having Mia under granddaughter in his phone made her heart swell. Made her really, really happy. "I actually half expected to find it under Princess," she said and they both laughed.
"No, I did think about it," he laughed. "But I thought granddaughter was better."
"Can I tell her?" Clarisse asked as he quickly glanced at her with his gorgeous smile.
"If you want to," he nodded, and looked back at the road, as a message popped up on his phone.
"Wow, we've been in the country five minutes and people are already messaging you," Clarisse said as she looked at the message, "who's Gigi? She messaged saying, I heard you're in town and that you're married now. Congratulations!"
"Oh she's just an old family friend, she and Vee were best friends growing up," Joseph said as Clarisse looked up at him. "I didn't realise I still had her number actually. But I'll message her back later if I remember."
"Okay," Clarisse smiled, quickly forgetting about it and continued looking for Mia's number in his phone as Joseph looked between her and the road a couple of times, "ah ha, found it," she said and pressed the call button.
"Hello grandpa," Mia said when she picked up after a couple of rings.
"No, it's grandma, but let me put you on speaker, hold on," Clarisse said while looking down at the phone in her hand and pressing the speaker button. "Okay, you're on speaker now."
"Oh cool, hey you two," Mia smiled, "you got there safe?"
"Yes, we did," Clarisse smiled as she looked at her husband concentrating on the road, "we are just on our way now to the place we are staying."
"Lovely, what's the weather like?" Mia smiled.
"Hot," Clarisse laughed, "oh there's something I got to tell you. Joseph has your number saved in his phone under granddaughter."
"Oh, no way? I have his saved in mine as grandpa," Mia laughed. "It used to be Joe.. Joe. It used to be Joe, but now it's grandpa," she smiled.
"You had it saved as Joey, didn't you?" Joseph smirked as Clarisse looked up at him.
"Yes, I did," Mia said and smiled. "I'm sorry grandpa."
"That's okay, I don't mind that just as long as no one ever calls me Joey then I'm fine," Joseph said and glanced to Clarisse sat smirking beside him before looking back at the road.
"Why don't you like people calling you Joey?" Mia asked. "It's an okay name."
"Yes for some, but Joey is not for me I'm afraid," Joseph answered.
"I agree," Clarisse smiled, "you don't look like a Joey. Joe or Joseph, yes. But not Joey."
"Suppose," Mia said, "anyway, I'm glad you got there safe and thanks for letting me know. I'll let you go now so you can start enjoying your honeymoon."
"Thank you, sweetheart," Clarisse smiled, "please can you let Pierre know for us?"
"Of course I can," Mia smiled.
"And please remember to call me if you need me for anything, okay? Anytime, I won't mind," Clarisse said.
"Oh grandma no, honestly I have enough people here to help me, so just please enjoy your honeymoon with grandpa okay, and I'll speak to you soon," Mia smiled, "I love you."
"We love you too, sweetheart," Clarisse smiled, even if she did feel a little sad.
"Bye," Joseph smiled.
"Bye," Mia said and hung up.
"As hard as it is for you to hear, my love, you heard what she said," Joseph said as Clarisse let out a sigh beside him. "She will be fine."
"I suppose you are right," Clarisse nodded as she looked down at the phone in her hands.
"I think this will be the making of her though, you know," Joseph said, his gaze remaining on the road. "She's thrown herself in at the deep end to prove to you that she can do it by herself, something she's going to need to do at some point anyway. So why not start now?"
"I know, it's just hard after helping her nonstop for the last few years to her now not needing me," Clarisse said as she turned her head to look at him.
"I know it is, but you have taught her all you know, so it could either go all wrong for her, which is something we really don't want or, it could all go right for her. And I personally believe she's got what it takes," Joseph nodded, "and will be just fine."
"Me too," Clarisse said and looked out the front windscreen a long moment.
"She was taught by the best after all," Joseph smiled as Clarisse looked back at him.
"Thank you," Clarisse said sincerely as she leant forward, putting his phone into her handbag before sitting back and resting her arm on the armrest between them. "If you weren't driving right now I'd kiss you, but I guess it'll have to wait."
"Oh damn," he said and they both laughed as he reached his hand out for hers resting on the armrest and lifted it to his mouth, "I can still do this though," he smiled and kissed the back of her hand.
Smiling contentedly and biting her bottom lip, Clarisse watched him lower their hands but kept a hold of her hand in his lap. "Do you realise that this is the first time you have driven me since we became husband and wife?"
"Really?" He said in surprise and thought a moment before turning his head to briefly look at her before looking back at the road with a sly smirk. "Oh yes of course it is, well, how do you feel about me driving you now I'm your husband?"
"Strange but oh so wonderful, because I get to sit up here with you and hold your hand," she smiled, giving his hand a small squeeze. "Something we weren't able to do before."
"I love that too," he smiled and nodded.
Smiling, Clarisse turned her head to look out of her window a moment, taking in the sights as they drove along. "How long does it take to get to where we are staying?" She asked and looked back at him.
"About another half hour," he said. "And I was thinking, after I have shown you around the place, I'll cook us a nice meal."
"Okay, sounds nice," Clarisse smiled, "does it have a bath or just a shower?"
"It has both, of course," Joseph smiled and quickly glanced to her before, once again, looking back at the road.
"Oh good," she smiled and looked back out of the front window, "I'll have a soak in the bath before bed then."
"I knew you would," he chuckled.
Arriving at the place they would be calling home for the next two weeks, and after showing Clarisse around and unpacking their cases, Joseph drew her a lovely hot bubble bath for her to relax in while he prepared them dinner. But, coming into the bedroom and lying on the bed for a few minutes, to check his messages on his phone, Joseph ended up falling asleep instead.
And after having the most relaxing bath, thanks to her husband knowing just how she liked it, Clarisse hummed happily to herself as she dried her body and put on a pair of her silk short pyjama sets before slipping on her robe, and leaving it open, she made her way into the bedroom. But entering the room and finding Joseph fast asleep on the bed, she put her hands on her hips and smiled, simply watching him for a moment.
He looked so peaceful she thought happily as she slowly walked over to stand next to the bed, before trying to gently, as not to wake him, prise his phone from his hand. But in doing so, made him turn over. "No," he said in his sleep as Clarisse pulled back, knowing he had been tired from their late nights as well as travelling all day, so not wanting to wake him, she decided to leave the phone and let him sleep instead. But what he said next, as she turned to walk away, left her shocked. "Not tonight Gisele."
"Joseph," she exclaimed while turning back to him on the bed and shaking his arm to wake him. "Joseph!"
"What is it?" He said in a sleepy haze before suddenly sitting up in a panic. "What's wrong, are you okay?" He asked, looking at her standing beside the bed.
"Who's Gisele?" She asked and folded her arms.